I arrived at LAX just a couple of hours earlier via American Airlines.
I traveled via the LA Metro rail to reach Union Station, then I bought a ticket on the Metrolink commuter rail to Burbank, where I spent several hours photographing trains under the scorching California sun.
This is an imperfect composition, but it ages well. Exposed using my FujiFilm XT1 with 18-135mm lens set to 20mm, f8 1/500th of a second, ISO200. July 27, 2016.
Not that Los Angeles, or F59PH diesels have much to do with it, but for years I’ve introduced a subtlety with many Tracking the Light posts that changes thematically depending upon the subject matter; yet no one has ever mentioned it, questioned me about, or anything. I find that strange for blog that often focuses on trivia, detail and obscure observations.
Six years ago (July 29, 2016), I made this view of a Metrolink passenger train from the footbridge at the Fullerton, California station using my FujiFilm XT1.
This file is a scaled view of the in-camera JPG exposed with Fuji’s ‘Velvia’ color profile, designed to digitally emulate the colors of its popular slide film.
Fullerton is a neat place to watch and photograph trains. The busy triple-track line hosts a continual parade of BNSF freights and both Amtrak and Metrolink passenger trains. The setting features several old railroad stations, lots of modern signaling and lovely palm trees.
On August 4, 2016, I spent a little while at the Metrolink station in Santa Ana, California on the old Santa Fe photographing passenger trains coming and going.
As modern adapted stations go, Santa Ana is cool.
This view was made from the footbridge over the tracks. I was putting my FujiFilm XT1 digital camera through its paces.
Working with Lightroom, I made adjustements to color temperature, contrast and color saturation to improve this Fuji RAW file. I wanted to make the most of the California color palate.
Metrolink F59PHi 877 works at the back of train 687.
On August 4, 2016, I made these two images of Los Angeles Metrolink MP36 diesels at the Los Angeles Union Station.
Both were exposed with my FujiFilm XT1.
The distant view places the locomotive in its environment; the close up examines the form of the equipment. Both help visually tell the story of the locomotive at work.
